Drone Gift Guide: Choices From DJI, GoPro, Yuneec, Parrot

Drones have risen above niche status. What used to be a pricey hobby for RC enthusiasts and pro videographers is now a field ripe with funky sky gadgets. Choices range from $20 toys up into pro models that cost several thousand dollars. Whether your loved one is brand new to flying machines or can zip a quadcopter through a basketball hoop at 50 yards, we’ve got selections for every type of pilot on your list.

And of course, don’t forget that extra batteries—a necessity for extending flight time—make great stocking stuffers.

DJI Phantom 4

Know someone who wants to get the best footage possible from their drone? The DJI Phantom 4 is the one to get. Its 12-megapixel camera can capture 4K video at up to 30 frames per second, and with an f/2.8 aperture it can produce solid footage at night. It also has all of DJI’s most advanced safety and assistance features, like obstacle avoidance, follow-me mode, and an autopilot that smooths out bumpy landings. Buy for $899

Credit: DJI

Know someone who wants to get the best footage possible from their drone? The DJI Phantom 4 is the one to get. Its 12-megapixel camera can capture 4K video at up to 30 frames per second, and with an f/2.8 aperture it can produce solid footage at night. It also has all of DJI’s most advanced safety and assistance features, like obstacle avoidance, follow-me mode, and an autopilot that smooths out bumpy landings. Buy for $899

Parrot Bebop 2 Power

The Parrot Bebop 2 provides a front row seat for some wicked sky-soaring adventures. It comes with a 720p camera that can record up to 30 fps, plus a nifty headset that gives the wearer a first-person aerial view from the drone’s camera. Parrot’s drone has some wind resistance tech built in to make it easier to fly, and it comes with two batteries so it can stay aloft longer. Buy for $550

Credit: Amazon

The Parrot Bebop 2 provides a front row seat for some wicked sky-soaring adventures. It comes with a 720p camera that can record up to 30 fps, plus a nifty headset that gives the wearer a first-person aerial view from the drone’s camera. Parrot’s drone has some wind resistance tech built in to make it easier to fly, and it comes with two batteries so it can stay aloft longer. Buy for $550

Yuneec Typhoon H

This drone has the whole shebang. It has six props instead of four for added stability. It shoots 4K video, and the landing gear retracts so the camera can spin a full 360 degrees without being obstructed. The Android-powered controller rocks a big ol’ display for real-time POV monitoring. The best part, though, is how smart this thing is. It can orbit around the pilot, follow them around, and stay focused on one subject, so they can enjoy the moment with their shiny new whirlybird. Buy for $1,000

This drone has the whole shebang. It has six props instead of four for added stability. It shoots 4K video, and the landing gear retracts so the camera can spin a full 360 degrees without being obstructed. The Android-powered controller rocks a big ol’ display for real-time POV monitoring. The best part, though, is how smart this thing is. It can orbit around the pilot, follow them around, and stay focused on one subject, so they can enjoy the moment with their shiny new whirlybird. Buy for $1,000

GoPro Karma

Know someone who’s all about those action shots? Then they probably already have a GoPro, making the Karma the most sensible addition to their arsenal. All they have to do is pop their Hero5 or Hero6 action cam into the Karma and they’re good to go. The drone’s stabilization tech makes sure videos come out nice and smooth. And since it uses a GoPro for its eye in the sky, they can land, pop out the camera, mount it to a helmet or selfie stick, and get some more footage from the ground. Buy for $799

Credit: GoPro

Know someone who’s all about those action shots? Then they probably already have a GoPro, making the Karma the most sensible addition to their arsenal. All they have to do is pop their Hero5 or Hero6 action cam into the Karma and they’re good to go. The drone’s stabilization tech makes sure videos come out nice and smooth. And since it uses a GoPro for its eye in the sky, they can land, pop out the camera, mount it to a helmet or selfie stick, and get some more footage from the ground. Buy for $799

DJI Spark

Not everybody who wants a drone will be super stoked about having to lug a big ol’ carrying case around. For those people, there’s the DJI Spark. It’s super compact, so they can stuff it into their bag without much added bulk. And if you don’t want to drop the dough for the $119 controller, it can be controlled with a mobile phone, or even gestures. It will launch with a wave of the hand, and when you make a rectangle shape with your thumbs and forefingers, it snaps a selfie. Buy for $441

Credit: DJI

Not everybody who wants a drone will be super stoked about having to lug a big ol’ carrying case around. For those people, there’s the DJI Spark. It’s super compact, so they can stuff it into their bag without much added bulk. And if you don’t want to drop the dough for the $119 controller, it can be controlled with a mobile phone, or even gestures. It will launch with a wave of the hand, and when you make a rectangle shape with your thumbs and forefingers, it snaps a selfie. Buy for $441

DJI Mavic Pro

This one folds too, so it’s another great option for travelers or people who don’t want to carry a bunch of equipment whenever they go droning. The optics on the Mavic Pro aren’t as great as the ones on other drones, but it’s more compact and its accessories are more affordable. Image quality aside, you can get a great machine that offers most of what DJI puts into its best flyers. Buy for $919

Credit: Amazon

This one folds too, so it’s another great option for travelers or people who don’t want to carry a bunch of equipment whenever they go droning. The optics on the Mavic Pro aren’t as great as the ones on other drones, but it’s more compact and its accessories are more affordable. Image quality aside, you can get a great machine that offers most of what DJI puts into its best flyers. Buy for $919

Mindkoo JJRC H8 Mini Quad Copter

If you’ve got a kiddo in your life who’s dying to fly a drone, this is the one to grab. At $20, it’s a steal, and you won’t have to worry as much about them flying it into a tree. It’s light, so it can’t do much damage, and flying it will help them learn the basics before they step up. Buy for $20

Credit: Amazon

If you’ve got a kiddo in your life who’s dying to fly a drone, this is the one to grab. At $20, it’s a steal, and you won’t have to worry as much about them flying it into a tree. It’s light, so it can’t do much damage, and flying it will help them learn the basics before they step up. Buy for $20

Aukey Mohawk

Another great beginner drone. It gets up to 10 minutes of flight per charge, and its design makes it look like the RC vehicle of the future. It doesn’t have any fancy automation tech, but it’ll get budding pilots into the groove pretty seamlessly. Buy for $65

Credit: Amazon

Another great beginner drone. It gets up to 10 minutes of flight per charge, and its design makes it look like the RC vehicle of the future. It doesn’t have any fancy automation tech, but it’ll get budding pilots into the groove pretty seamlessly. Buy for $65

Parrot Disco

Looking for something other than a quadcopter? The Parrot Disco changes things up in a fun way. It looks like a traditional “flying wing” airplane. The propeller is on the back, and there’s a camera on the nose. It comes with a headset too, and when you slide in a smartphone, you get a first-person view of the action. Give someone the gift of feeling like a real airplane pilot—at least until the battery dies. Buy for $600

Credit: Parrot

Looking for something other than a quadcopter? The Parrot Disco changes things up in a fun way. It looks like a traditional “flying wing” airplane. The propeller is on the back, and there’s a camera on the nose. It comes with a headset too, and when you slide in a smartphone, you get a first-person view of the action. Give someone the gift of feeling like a real airplane pilot—at least until the battery dies. Buy for $600

Incase Camera Sling Bag

Drones are awesome, but they’re no good if they just sit at home collecting dust. Get your pilot something to lug their bird around in. The Incase Camera Sling Bag keeps drone gear nice and safe while remaining understated and inconspicuous. It’ll also hold some DSLR equipment and a 13-inch laptop for the multi-skilled creator. Buy for $150

Drones are awesome, but they’re no good if they just sit at home collecting dust. Get your pilot something to lug their bird around in. The Incase Camera Sling Bag keeps drone gear nice and safe while remaining understated and inconspicuous. It’ll also hold some DSLR equipment and a 13-inch laptop for the multi-skilled creator. Buy for $150

VMEI Drone Landing Pad

Some drones won’t land unless they can sense they’ve got a safe, clear place to perch. A launch pad helps guide drones back to the ground on terrain that’s difficult for the drone to assess. This pad comes with reflective strips, so that late night flight sesh won’t incur too much risk. Buy for $16.29

Credit: Amazon

Some drones won’t land unless they can sense they’ve got a safe, clear place to perch. A launch pad helps guide drones back to the ground on terrain that’s difficult for the drone to assess. This pad comes with reflective strips, so that late night flight sesh won’t incur too much risk. Buy for $16.29

Samsung 128GB Micro SD Card

Your loved one will need somewhere to store all that sick footage they capture. If they like to fly all day, the more storage the better. Most drones support up to 128GB Micro SD cards, and that should be plenty to get a day’s worth of aerial shots. Buy for $45

Credit: Amazon

Your loved one will need somewhere to store all that sick footage they capture. If they like to fly all day, the more storage the better. Most drones support up to 128GB Micro SD cards, and that should be plenty to get a day’s worth of aerial shots. Buy for $45